Spiralling of the Securitisation of Migration in the European Union

This book investigates how migration has been transformed into a security threat in Europe. It argues that this process has taken place through a self-fulfilling spiralling process, which involves different actors and their specific narratives, practices and policies. The book examines how situations stemming from the so-called ‘migration crisis’ in the European Union (EU) have been dealt with by governments and non-governmental organisations. It also considers how actors treating migration as an ordinary phenomenon rather than a threat and sharing inclusive narratives can create the conditions for decelerating and eventually stopping securitisation processes. Some chapters examine the spiralling of the securitisation of migration in depth, by analysing increases in securitisation, as well as cases characterised by resistance. Others focus on examining the consequences of socially constructing migration as a crisis for the EU’s relations with third countries. In sum, this book shows that there is a wide range of motives for which states and societies would benefit from a change in migration politics and move from the current management of a ‘crisis’ to a more positive governance of human mobility. It will be of interest to researchers and advanced students of sociology, politics, international relations, social and cultural anthropology, human geography, and social work. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.

Valeria Bello is Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Masters programme in Advanced Studies in International Affairs at the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, University Ramón Llull, Barcelona, Spain.

Sarah Léonard is Professor of International Security at the University of the West of England, UK.